RedState’s Erick Erickson reports that “there was an audible gasp” when Capitol Hill Republican staffers were told that Speaker John Boehner’s, R-Ohio, debt hike plan contained only $25 billion in cuts to discretionary spending next year. This is completely understandable considering that House Republicans already voted to cut $111 billion when they voted for House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan’s, R-Wis., Path to Prosperity earlier this year. Why Boehner chose to backtrack from that figure now is mystifying. House Republicans already unified around the Ryan budget once. That budget contains both a realistic plan to control our nation’s future deficits and higher borrowing needs than the current debt limit level. Why not use the Ryan plan as the basis for a debt hike that plan that can pass the House with a majority of Republican votes.

Around the Bigs
The Washington Post, President Obama, House Speaker Boehner present dueling debt-limit plans to nation: Presdient Obama and Speaker John, Boehner, R-Ohio, gave back-to-back televised speeches last night pitching their respective debt hike plans. Obama again called for higher taxes, while Boehner made a pitch for the plan he unveiled earlier in the afternoon.